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Lignicolous fungi in the Antarctic
19 and recording absences as well as presence can one be certain of the first real appearance of such an interesting invader. It would be worth while looking at any A cer species, since the fungus has been recorded from field maple (A cer campestre L.) as well as sycamore in Britain, from Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.) in France and 'only on dead maple wood' in Canada, though it was 'recorded on dying maples, hickories and limes (TWa), in Wisconsin, U.S.A. (Anon, 1952). References Allen, A.A. (1954) Colon latum Kr, (Col., Cholevidae) etc., at Wychwood, Oxon, Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 90: 144. Allen, A.A. (1957) Diplocoelus fagi Guer. (Col., Biphyllidae) in West Kent. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 93: 19. Anon. (1952) Sooty bark disease of sycamore. Forestry Commission Leaflet 30: 1-7. Donisthorpe, H.SU .K. (1939) A Preliminary List of the Coleoptera of Windsor Forest. London. Gregory, P;H. (1950) The Sycamore Sooty Bark Fungus (Cryptostroma corticale). Essex Naturalist 29: 13-16. Gregory, P.H. & Waller, S. (195 I) Cryptostroma corticale and sooty bark disease of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus). Transactions of the British Mycological Society 34: 579-597. Lister, G. (1942) The flora of Wanstead Park district. Essex Naturalist 27: 121-138. Peace, T.R. (1955) Sooty bark disease of 'S)'camore- a disease in eclipse. Quarterly Journal of Forestry 49: 197-204. Peace, T.R. (1962) Pathology of Trees and Shrubs with Special Reference to Britain. Oxford, Clarendon Press. Thomas, A. (1970) Autumn Foray, Oxford September, 1969 List of species. Bulletin British Mycological Society 4: 65-69. Walker, J.J. (1926) Diplocoelus fagi Chevr., Enicmus brevicornis Mann., in the Oxford district. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 62: 169. Waller, S. (1949) Preliminary notes on a new fungus disease of sycamore. Essex Naturalist 28: 136-138.
LIGNICOLOUS FUNGI IN THE ANTARCTIC D.C. Lindsay Of sporadic occurrence in the Antarctic, macrofungi are apparently restricted to the Antarctic Peninsula region where there is a greater diversity of habitats and a slightly more oceanic climate than in most of continental Antarctica. Human exploration and exploitation of the natural resources of the Antarctic Peninsula region, such as fur seal and whales, began in the early nineteenth century and have continued intermittently until the present day. During such operations a number of temporary and semi-permanent encampments were built, the most important being land-based whaling stations at Deception Island, South Shetland Islands (lat. 63 S., long. 62° W.), Signy Island, South Orkney Islands (lat. 61 ° S., long. 45° W.) and on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia (lat. 54° S., long. 37° W.). With the decline of the whaling industry, these whaling stations have been abandoned and much of the debris, such as timber and concrete, has been colonized by native mosses and lichens. In a few cases lignicolous fungi have been found on imported timber. Galactinia adae (Stadlir) Boud.
20
( = Peziza domiciliana Cooke) has been found on timber at Deception Island (Llano, 1965) and it may have been introduced with lumber imported from Argentina. A species of Pholiota was noted on timber of an old whaling boat (Singer, 1967), but its origins are obscure. During botanical studies on South Georgia and the South Orkney Islands, the present author found two species of fungi, both of the order Tremellales, on introduced timber. Comments on these are presented below. Specimens are preserved in the herbarium of the British Antarctic Survey (AAS), Department of Botany, University of Birmingham. Dacrymy ces cr. deliquescens (Bull. ex St. Amans) Duby The imperfect state of this fungus was found at both South Georgia and Signy Island, South Orkney Islands. On South Georgia it was noted only once, on a small wooden footbridge behind Grytviken whaling station, in February 1972. On Signy Island, it was found in October 1966 on an old wooden crate partly embedded in moss turf behind the base huts. This crate bore the markings of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (renamed British Antarctic Survey on I January 1962), so it may be assumed the timber originated in Europe. The timber at Grytviken may have come from northern Europe, South America or even South Africa (Matthews, 1931). Specimens examined: South Georgia: Grytviken, Lindsay 4294 South Orkney Islands: Signy Island, Factory Cove, Lindsay 1308. Exidia sp, This fungus was found only on Signy Island, where it was noted at two localities. The first locality, where it occurred as numerous small basidiocarps up to 4 em diameter in August 1966, was at the old purnphouse in Three Lakes Valley. This hut had been constructed by Tensberg Hvalfangeri of Sandefjord, Norway in 1920-21 (Marr, 1935) and so the timber may have originated from northern Europe. A few small basidiocarps, up to 2.5 em diameter, were found on timber debris on the site of the former whaling station at Factory Cove in October 1966. None of the basidiocarps examined had produced mature basidiaspores. The timber on the site of the whaling station may have originated from that imported by Tensberg Hvalfangeri in 1920-21 or from the activities of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey and British Antarctic Survey, dating from 1947. Specimen examined : South Orkney Islands, Signy Island, Three Lakes Valley, Lindsay 1347.
Although Singer (1967) is inclined to dismiss the occurrence of alien fungi in the Antarctic as of minimal phytogeographic importance, the survival of lignicolous fungi in the Antarctic is of interest. The species of Exidia growing at the old pumphouse on Signy Island had possibly survived over 40 Antarctic winters. However, neither this nor the species of Dacrymyces is apparently capable of producing mature basidiospores under such climatic conditions, or capable of spreading on to other timber. On Signy Island the Dacrymyces was found on only one, and the Exidia on only two out of over 1100 pieces of timber examined. The introduction of alien fungi to the Antarctic thus seems to be a rare event. The material was collected while the author was employed by the British Antarctic Survey. Drs D.A. Reid (The Herbarium, Kew) and J.H. Baker (Freshwater Biological Association, Wareham, Dorset) assisted with identifications. References Llano, G.A. (1965) The flora of Antarctica. In Hatherton, T., ed. , Antarctica. pp. 331-356. London, Methuen and Co.
21 Marr, J .W.S. (J 935). The South Orkney Islands . Disco very R ep. , 10, 28 3-38 2. Matthews , L.H. ( 193 1). Sou th Geo rgia, the British Em pire 's sub-A nt arctic: ou tpost. Bristol, John Wright and Sons Ltd. Singer , R. (1967) Fungi distribution. In Bushnell, V., ed ., Terrestrial life of Antarctica. A ntartic Map Folio Series. Folio 5, 16-17. Note by editor. The fungus referred to as Galactinia adae (Stadlir) Boud. = (Peziz a d omiciliana Cooke) has special connections with the Royal Botanic Garde n, Edi nb urgh. It was first descri be d by Sadler (not Stadler) in Transactions of th e Botanical Society of Edinburgh in 1877 as Peziza A dae , the specific epithet based on the name of his daughter Ada, and th e fungus having been found on walls of Inverleith Hou se, after a fire there . Thus to the third annual Conferenc e o f the Cryptogamic Society of Scotland, held at Dunkeld in October 1877 " Mr J. Sadler brought, on behalf of Professor Balfou r, several Pezizae of great in terest , all having been found on damp plaster at Inverle ith House: these included P. Adae Sadler (do miciliana Cooke)" : Cooke described Peziza domiciliana in Gard. Chron. June 23 1877. Inverleith House is situated within the Royal Botanic Garden and now houses Modern Art.
SOME INTERESTING PATHOGENS OF NATURAL VEGETATION H.J. Fletcher On e of the problems in t eaching plant pathology is the annual supply of plant s in fecte d with suit able fung i. Ru sts an!1 mildews pr esent few difficult ies, but with many of th e facultativ e par asites, du e to mod ern agric u ltural techniqu es, th ese organisms are eit her ver y irregular in the ir occurren ce or are ob lite ra ted co mplete ly afte r harvest. For so me time I have been sear ch ing for subst itutes fro m th e pathogens of natural vegetation. It was th er efore , with this in mind , th at part of the project of one of our H.N.C. Ecology students, Mrs. Linda Johnston (of the Botany Departmen t , University of Aberdee n) was a record of th e distribution of pathogens on grasses und er bee ch tre es along th e bank of the R iver Don near Aberdeen. Som e int eresting and useful teaching organisms were found during the mild wint er 19 73-74 as fo llows :
ASCOMYCETES - PYR ENOMYCETES Claviceps purpurea on Dactylis glom erata and Phalaris arundi nacea Ophiob olus grarn inis o n Dacty lis glomerata Pleospora infectoria (Alte rnaria sta te) on Dactylis glom erata ; Festuca alt issima and Agrost is stolo nif er FUNGI IMPERFECTI
Aristatoma sp. on Phalaris arundinacea Ascochyta graminicola on Phalaris arundinacea and Phleum pratense Drechslera fugax on Agrostis gigantea Drechslera poae on Poa nemoralis Drechslera siccans on Festu ca altiss ima Fu sarium cu lmo ru m on Festu ca a!tissima Fusarium poa e on Dactylis glomera ta Mast igosporum album on A lop ecurus pra tens is Myrothecium carmich aelii on Chamaenerion angustifoliu m School of Pharmacy , Robert Gordon' s Institute of T echnology, Aberdeen.
LIGNICOLOUS FUNGI IN THE ANTARCTIC D.C. Lindsay Of sporadic occurrence in the Antarctic, macrofungi are apparently restricted to the Antarctic Peninsula region where there is a greater diversity of habitats and a slightly more oceanic climate than in most of continental Antarctica. Human exploration and exploitation of the natural resources of the Antarctic Peninsula region, such as fur seal and whales, began in the early nineteenth century and have continued intermittently until the present day. During such operations a number of temporary and semi-permanent encampments were built, the most important being land-based whaling stations at Deception Island, South Shetland Islands (lat. 63 S., long. 62° W.), Signy Island, South Orkney Islands (lat. 61 ° S., long. 45° W.) and on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia (lat. 54° S., long. 37° W.). With the decline of the whaling industry, these whaling stations have been abandoned and much of the debris, such as timber and concrete, has been colonized by native mosses and lichens. In a few cases lignicolous fungi have been found on imported timber. Galactinia adae (Stadlir) Boud.
20
( = Peziza domiciliana Cooke) has been found on timber at Deception Island (Llano, 1965) and it may have been introduced with lumber imported from Argentina. A species of Pholiota was noted on timber of an old whaling boat (Singer, 1967), but its origins are obscure. During botanical studies on South Georgia and the South Orkney Islands, the present author found two species of fungi, both of the order Tremellales, on introduced timber. Comments on these are presented below. Specimens are preserved in the herbarium of the British Antarctic Survey (AAS), Department of Botany, University of Birmingham. Dacrymy ces cr. deliquescens (Bull. ex St. Amans) Duby The imperfect state of this fungus was found at both South Georgia and Signy Island, South Orkney Islands. On South Georgia it was noted only once, on a small wooden footbridge behind Grytviken whaling station, in February 1972. On Signy Island, it was found in October 1966 on an old wooden crate partly embedded in moss turf behind the base huts. This crate bore the markings of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (renamed British Antarctic Survey on I January 1962), so it may be assumed the timber originated in Europe. The timber at Grytviken may have come from northern Europe, South America or even South Africa (Matthews, 1931). Specimens examined: South Georgia: Grytviken, Lindsay 4294 South Orkney Islands: Signy Island, Factory Cove, Lindsay 1308. Exidia sp, This fungus was found only on Signy Island, where it was noted at two localities. The first locality, where it occurred as numerous small basidiocarps up to 4 em diameter in August 1966, was at the old purnphouse in Three Lakes Valley. This hut had been constructed by Tensberg Hvalfangeri of Sandefjord, Norway in 1920-21 (Marr, 1935) and so the timber may have originated from northern Europe. A few small basidiocarps, up to 2.5 em diameter, were found on timber debris on the site of the former whaling station at Factory Cove in October 1966. None of the basidiocarps examined had produced mature basidiaspores. The timber on the site of the whaling station may have originated from that imported by Tensberg Hvalfangeri in 1920-21 or from the activities of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey and British Antarctic Survey, dating from 1947. Specimen examined : South Orkney Islands, Signy Island, Three Lakes Valley, Lindsay 1347.
Although Singer (1967) is inclined to dismiss the occurrence of alien fungi in the Antarctic as of minimal phytogeographic importance, the survival of lignicolous fungi in the Antarctic is of interest. The species of Exidia growing at the old pumphouse on Signy Island had possibly survived over 40 Antarctic winters. However, neither this nor the species of Dacrymyces is apparently capable of producing mature basidiospores under such climatic conditions, or capable of spreading on to other timber. On Signy Island the Dacrymyces was found on only one, and the Exidia on only two out of over 1100 pieces of timber examined. The introduction of alien fungi to the Antarctic thus seems to be a rare event. The material was collected while the author was employed by the British Antarctic Survey. Drs D.A. Reid (The Herbarium, Kew) and J.H. Baker (Freshwater Biological Association, Wareham, Dorset) assisted with identifications. References Llano, G.A. (1965) The flora of Antarctica. In Hatherton, T., ed. , Antarctica. pp. 331-356. London, Methuen and Co.
21 Marr, J .W.S. (J 935). The South Orkney Islands . Disco very R ep. , 10, 28 3-38 2. Matthews , L.H. ( 193 1). Sou th Geo rgia, the British Em pire 's sub-A nt arctic: ou tpost. Bristol, John Wright and Sons Ltd. Singer , R. (1967) Fungi distribution. In Bushnell, V., ed ., Terrestrial life of Antarctica. A ntartic Map Folio Series. Folio 5, 16-17. Note by editor. The fungus referred to as Galactinia adae (Stadlir) Boud. = (Peziz a d omiciliana Cooke) has special connections with the Royal Botanic Garde n, Edi nb urgh. It was first descri be d by Sadler (not Stadler) in Transactions of th e Botanical Society of Edinburgh in 1877 as Peziza A dae , the specific epithet based on the name of his daughter Ada, and th e fungus having been found on walls of Inverleith Hou se, after a fire there . Thus to the third annual Conferenc e o f the Cryptogamic Society of Scotland, held at Dunkeld in October 1877 " Mr J. Sadler brought, on behalf of Professor Balfou r, several Pezizae of great in terest , all having been found on damp plaster at Inverle ith House: these included P. Adae Sadler (do miciliana Cooke)" : Cooke described Peziza domiciliana in Gard. Chron. June 23 1877. Inverleith House is situated within the Royal Botanic Garden and now houses Modern Art.
SOME INTERESTING PATHOGENS OF NATURAL VEGETATION H.J. Fletcher On e of the problems in t eaching plant pathology is the annual supply of plant s in fecte d with suit able fung i. Ru sts an!1 mildews pr esent few difficult ies, but with many of th e facultativ e par asites, du e to mod ern agric u ltural techniqu es, th ese organisms are eit her ver y irregular in the ir occurren ce or are ob lite ra ted co mplete ly afte r harvest. For so me time I have been sear ch ing for subst itutes fro m th e pathogens of natural vegetation. It was th er efore , with this in mind , th at part of the project of one of our H.N.C. Ecology students, Mrs. Linda Johnston (of the Botany Departmen t , University of Aberdee n) was a record of th e distribution of pathogens on grasses und er bee ch tre es along th e bank of the R iver Don near Aberdeen. Som e int eresting and useful teaching organisms were found during the mild wint er 19 73-74 as fo llows :
ASCOMYCETES - PYR ENOMYCETES Claviceps purpurea on Dactylis glom erata and Phalaris arundi nacea Ophiob olus grarn inis o n Dacty lis glomerata Pleospora infectoria (Alte rnaria sta te) on Dactylis glom erata ; Festuca alt issima and Agrost is stolo nif er FUNGI IMPERFECTI
Aristatoma sp. on Phalaris arundinacea Ascochyta graminicola on Phalaris arundinacea and Phleum pratense Drechslera fugax on Agrostis gigantea Drechslera poae on Poa nemoralis Drechslera siccans on Festu ca altiss ima Fu sarium cu lmo ru m on Festu ca a!tissima Fusarium poa e on Dactylis glomera ta Mast igosporum album on A lop ecurus pra tens is Myrothecium carmich aelii on Chamaenerion angustifoliu m School of Pharmacy , Robert Gordon' s Institute of T echnology, Aberdeen.